Core capping machine



Oct. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 19527 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR; Edwin M'llllamfiebie 660776 washinylonflodye BYATTORNEY 1934- E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24. 19327 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ Edwin Willi/am BebLe vGeorge washmglon Dodge7 ATTORNEY 0st. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1952 ,mVEN roRs 5 Edwin Wzllmm BebLeATTORNE eorqe Washington Dodge Oct. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE ET AL CORECAPPING MACHINE Filed May '24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 D v E Edwi nWilliam Bebw eorqe washinqion Dodqe ATTORNEY 1934- E. w, BEBIE El ALCORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 '4? A i/iINVENTORS Bcble @Edwin Willi'qm George Washtnglon Dodqe BY 6 7% ATTORNEY1934- E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING' MACHINE Filed May 24, 1952 7Sheets-Sheet 6 .& mbigmm wk -W Q G .H- WNW;

mvzu-rons h Edwin Wzlliam Debts George Washington Dodge BY 4Z= ATTORNEY-Oct. 9, 1934. w BEBIE ET AL 1,976,155

CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May '24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 l v IINVENTORS 2/ 5Edwin Willz'qm Bebte Georye washbnylon Dodge ATTORNEYPatented Get. 9, 1934 cons CAPPING MACHINE Edwin William Beloie,Hawthorne, N. J., and George Washington Dodge, Greenwich, Conn.,assignors to International Paper Company,

New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,226

38 Claims.

This invention is concerned with the provision of a method of andmachine for applying metal caps to the ends of members formed ofrelatively yielding material. More specifically, the invention relatesto a machine for securing caps to the ends of tubular cores such as arecommonly used for rolls of paper, for instance, for newsprint.

In order to provide for the rotation of rolls of paper in the printingpresses it has been customary to fasten to the end of the core, on whichthe paper is wound, a metal cap having a keyway. The core has generallybeen formed of stiff but yielding material like compressed or tightlywrapped paper and the practice has been to trim the core and hammer thecap into place by hand. As the heavy rolls are rotated at high speed inthe presses and often are suddenly stopped, a great strain is imposed onthe caps with the result that there is a tendency to loosen them fromthe cores with obviously highly undesirable results. Therefore, inaddition to the fact that it is troublesome and requires undue labor tosecure the caps to the cores in the first place, the hand applied capsare not always capable of withstanding the rough usage to which they areput. Moreover, the cores and caps must be accurately formed both as tolength and diameter, and this is difficult to attain in hand operations.

An object of the present invention is, accordingly, to provide animproved method of securing caps to cores of the character indicated.Another object is the provision of an efi'icient machine for thispurpose. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of one preferred form of my invention,which, while it has been developed in connection with the production ofcores for rolls of paper is capable of employment for other 10 purposes.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.1 V

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section in reduced scale, taken on line 55 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, central, vertical, longitudinal section throughthe construction shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but with the parts advanced to thepositions they occupy after the first step in the operation of themachine.

8 and 9 are views similar'to portions of to Figs. 6 and 7 but showingthe parts in the positions they occupy at successive subsequent stagesin the operation of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detailed view of a part of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the parts in theirpositions corresponding to Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 11 and 12 but showing the parts inthe positions they occupy shortly subsequent to their positions inFig.12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective detailed view of a part of the machine.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 8. f

Fig. 16 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one end of a coreafter it has been capped in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one end of a core ready for receivingits cap.

In its preferred form, our invention comprises a device for holding thecore, mechanism for compressing the walls of the core at the endthereof, a. punch for cutting a slot in the core for receiving a key-wayformed in the cap, and a member capable of pushing the cap onto thecore, all operable from a single member. Preferably, provision is alsomade for automatically forcing the capped core outwardly beyond thecompressing means. Means are provided for coordinating the actions ofthe various parts.

Referring now the drawings, there is shown at 1 a frame or base whichmay be mounted on any suitable support (not shown). Mounted on the topof the frame 1 there is shown a fixed head 2 secured to the framethrough suitable bolts 3 while a traveling head 4 is shown adapted toreciprocate along the top of the frame. The fixed head 2 is adapted toreceive a core 5. This core may be preferably made of compressed stocksuch as paper, although it will be understood that it might be made inother ways, as by tightly winding or rolling the paper into the core,and it might be formed of other suitable material such as soft wood orthe like. The character of the cores commonly employed for presentpurposes is well understood and no further description of the same isrequired. The head 2 is preferably composed of a generally cylindricalunitary portion 6, the interior diameter of the ends of which, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7, at 7 and 8, is substan tially the same as the outerdiameter of the core 5, while an intermediate portion of the head has aninternal diameter slightly larger, as shown at 9. As best shown in Fig.15, the head 2 is provided adjacent its mid-portion with openingsadapted to receive the narrower portions 10 of slidable, shoulderedmembers or shoes 11. For receiving the larger ends 12 of the shoulderedmembers 11 the head is shown formed with tapered portions 13 extendingradially inward from between shoulders 14. In this manner, the members11 are mounted for sliding radially within the head. The inner faces 15of the members 11 are preferably curved to conform to the surface of thecore and when the members are in their outermost positions, asdetermined by shoulders l4, lie substantially flush with the innercircumference of portion 9 of the fixed head 2; The portions 10 ofmembers 11 protrude through the outer surface of the head as shown inFig. 1 for purposes hereinafter described. The members 10 are shown asalso having extensions 11 (Fig. 8) extending longitudinally of the headand which are adapted to engage shoulders 2' formed in the head 2.Through engagement of extensions 11 with these shoulders 2', the members10 are prevented from falling into the interior of the head andinterfering with the insertion of cores 5.

Formed as a downward extension on the head 2 there is provided a portion16, the upper end of which, as shown at 17, merges with the head betweenthe lowermost movable members 11. A central vertical opening 18 is shownformed in the portion 16 for receiving a punch 19 adapted to cut a slot20 in the core, (see Figure 1'7), so that the key-way 21 of the cap 22may be received in the slot; Formed in the top of the frame 1 forpermitting the lower portion of extension 16 to pass therethrough is anopening 23. Shoulders 24, 25, may be provided on the head 2 forsupporting the same on the frame, the shoulders 25 serving to permitsecuring the head to the frame as by bolts 3. As shown in Fig. 6, aspring stop 28, of any suitable type, may be provided, to'limitinsertion of the core beyond the desired point for proper operation ofpunch 19. The stop 28 is preferably arranged so that it may be urgedoutwardly by cap 22 when the latter is forced into place. One or morestops may be employed, suitably spaced around the end of the core.

If desired, the punch may be. formed hollow and open at the sideadjacent the end of the core 5, so that the piece of material which ispunched out may be received in the interior of the punch. If thematerial is wedged into the punch it will be forced downwardly by thenext punching operation, and eventually forced out of the punch belowthe extension 16. For this purpose a suitable inclined surface may beprovided in the punch at the bottom of the hollow portion.

The upper portion 30 of the frame 1 is preferably formed U-shaped asbest shown in Fig. 2, with side portion 31 and a top portion 32 to whichare secured, as by welding, anti-friction tracks 33 adapted to lie insuitable grooves 4 in the head 4. This head 4 may be provided withshoulders 34 adapted to lie at the sides of the frame portion 30. Thehead 4, which may be provided with reinforcing ribs or flanges 35, 36,is shown as of generally semi-circular cross section with downwardly andlaterally extending portions below the center of curvature and formedhollow for receiving therewithin a cylindrical member or sleeve 37having a sliding fit along the interior surface 38 of the head. Withinthe member 3'7 thereis shown a hollow sleeve or cylinder 39 along whichthe member 3'7 is adapted to slide. The member 37 has a forwardlyextending portion40 which is suitably of smaller diameter than therearward portion 41. Portion 41 may have I shoulders as shown at 42 atthe forward end of a cavity 43 within the members forming a seat for aspring 44 received within the cavity and adapted to bearagainst the endwall 45 of the member 4. For aligning the sleeve 37 and limiting itstravel with respect to the member 4, bolts 46 may be employed, threadedas at 47 in the sleeve. These bolts may be adapted to slide in suitableopenings formed in the end wall 45. By turning the bolts 46 the tensionof the spring 44 may be adjusted as well as the clearance between theend of the sleeve and the wall 45.

Secured on a shouldered portion 39 formed on the forward end of thesleeve 39 there is shown a tapered member 50 having slots 51 forreceiving pins 54 secured in a plurality of traveling members 52 adaptedto act as wedges, said slots and pins acting to guide said members.These members52 are shown formed with grooves 53 for receivingresilientsplit rings 53 (Fig. 5) for retaining them in position on the taperedmember. Shoulders 55 and 56 may be provided at either end of the taperedmember for limiting the travel of the wedge members. As best shown inFigs. 6 and 10, the top of the rearward portion of the upper travelingmember 52 may be cut away to receive an element 58 which may be securedthereto in any convenient manner, so that the main body of the members58 does not protrude beyond the outer perimeter of member 39. Thiselement 58 has a foot 59 at the rear portion thereof extending generallyat right angles to the body of element 58 to a point slightly beyond theperiphery of sleeve 39. In order to permit the extension 40 of sleeve3'? to ride over the foot 59 a groove 60 is shown formed in theinteriorsurface of the extension. v For guiding the sleeve 39 in itstravel, there is shown a rod 61 located interiorly of the sleeve andhaving a bushing 62 threaded on the forward end thereof and adapted tohave a sliding fit with the interior surface of the said sleeve. Therearward end of this rod 61 may have a threaded shank 61 formed thereonfor securing it to an extension 30 of the frame. The sleeve 39 is shownas formed with a shouldered portion 63 adapted to abut against theoutside of the rear wall 45 of the traveling head 4.

Fittedsecurely into the forward end of member 4 there is provided abushing 65, formed of hard metal and having an internal diameter justenough larger than the outer diameter of the fixed head 2 to permit itto slide over the latter. As shown at 66 in Figs. 2 and 15 the lowercentral portion of the member 4 and sleeve are cut away to permit themember 4 to pass overportions 17 and 22 of head 2. Also, as best shownin Figs. 6 and 8, in order to permit proper operation of the punch 19,an opening 67 may be formed in the bottom of the tapered member 50 and acorresponding opening 68 in the lowermost wedge i member 52. Theseopenings, as will later appear, are at the appropriate time brought inline with the punch and in effect form the female member of the punch.

In order to provide for a limited travel of the members 4 and 39 inunison and a further travel of the member 4 independently of member 39,there may be provided the following construction. Referring particularlyto Figs. 11, 12 and 13, an enlarged extension '75 may be formed on therearward end of the sleeve 39 adapted to support and slide along rod 61and also slidably support a pair of rods '76 threaded as at '77 into therear wall 45 of the member 4. Rods '76 may extend dong extension on theframe and be guided and in part supported thereby. Overlying the rods 61and '76 and adapted to align the rods and permit them to slidethereunder, is a plate 78 secured to the extension through bolts '79.Extending longitudinally between the rods 61 and 76 and confined betweenupward projections 80 on the enlarged portion 75 of the sleeve 39 are aseries of keys 81 having wedging or camming faces 82 and 83 at each ofthe ends thereof. The rod 61 is shown formed with notches or grooves 84having faces 85 and 86 adapted to engage faces 82 and 83, respectively.The rods 76 are formed with corresponding notches or grooves 87 havingwedging faces 89 and 90. The grooves in the rods '76 are opposed to thegrooves in the rod 61, and the length of the blocks or keys 81 will besuch that each block must always be in engagement either with a groove84 or a groove 8'7, but such that when a block or key is seated in oneof the grooves, the outer surface of the opposite rod will be able totravel along the end of the block. The inclination of the faces 82, 85,and 89 is desirably such that as the rods travel with respect to theblocks, they are capable of urging them'into opposite grooves. Forexample, as the rods '76 are shifted toward the right (Figure 11) thesurfaces 89 will urge the blocks toward the rod 61 and into the notches84 as they are brought into line. Similarly on the return movement ofthe sleeve 39, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, thecooperation between the surfaces 82 and 85 will tend to urge the blocksoutwardly into the notches 87. The faces 83, 86 and 90 are preferablyarranged at a somewhat greater angle to the axes of the rods so as toproduce a somewhat smaller camming or wedging force upon the blocks.Thus, in the movement of the head 4 and rods 76 toward the right themore abrupt engagement of the faces 83 and 86, as the blocks are wedgedinwardly by the action of faces 82 and 89 willserve to more positivelyarrest the travel of the blocks and hence the member 39 along the rod61.

Means for reciprocating the head 4 may comprise an electric motor shownbolted to frame 1 for driving pinions 96 at opposite sides of thecarriage, through belt 97 and reduction gearing 98. The gearing 98 maybe supported on suitable shafting, (not shown), carried by the frame 1.Pinions 96 are shown supported at opposite sides of the frame 1, on ashaft 99, and are adapted to engage toothed racks 109 which may befastened against the undersides of flanges 161, formed on the head 4, bymeans of bolts 102. The operation of motor 95 may be controlled througha system of switches, (not shown but well known in the motor controlart), effective upon the predetermined desired travel of the head 4 toreverse the direction of operation of the motor. A main control switchmay, for example, be adapted to set the machine into operation and causetravel of the head 4 toward the right (Figure 1) while when the carriagereaches its desired limit of travel it may cause the motor to beautomatically reversed so as to withdraw the head 4 to its position atthe left as shown inFig. 1, at which point its travel may beautomatically stopped, as by opening of the main control switch, and thereversing system may be restored to its initial condition.

Suitable mechanism is provided for clamp ng the core in place duringoperation of the machine, and one form of such device is shown generallyin Fig. 1 and best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. In the form shown, agenerally cylindrical resilient metal band or clamp 103 is providedhaving friction material 104 secured to the inside thereof for grippingthe core 5. The clamp may lie within longitudinally extending bars 105,carried by an annular member 106 supported on frame portion 30, forlimiting outward'expansion of the resilient band 103. The ends of member103 are shown as connected with spaced studs 10'? on lever 108 having afulcrum at 109 on bracket 110 secured to the top 32 of the frame.Attached to an end of the lever 108 is a cable 111 running over pulleys112 and 113 journalled respectively on shafts 114 and 115, the former ofwhich is mounted in a bracket 116 secured to the frame. An opening 117is shown provided in the top 32 of the frame for permitting the cable111 to pass therethrough, and allowing the desired movement of lever108. For operating the cable 111 to tighten the clamping band 103, oneend of the cable is connected through a spring 113 and a turnbuckle 119to a bell-crank 129 having a roller 121 adapted to be engaged by the end122 of a flange 123 carried by the head 4, for swinging the bell-crankand thus holding the clamp tightened during the forward travel of thehead. As the end 124 of flange 123 passes beyond the roller 121 theclamp is automatically released. The spring 118 serves to absorb some ofthe shock caused by the roller 121 striking the shoulder 122 and theturnbuckle serves to permit adjustment of the parts. A spring 125 may beprovided for insuring a rapid and complete unclarnping action. It willbe observed that upon the return movement of the carriage the arm 12:)will simply be rocked idly counter-clockwise (Fig. 5) and will not causeclamp to be operated.

Mechanism for operating the punch 19 may comprise, as best shown in Fig.8, a link piv otally connected with the lower end of the punch asindicated at 136 and pivoted at 137 on arm 138 fixed to shaft 139 whichis carried by frame 1. Also secured to shaft 139 is a bell crank 140, tothe arm 141 of which there is shown pivoted, as by a stud 142, a lever143 adapted to be engaged by a stud 144 carried at one side adjacent theformed end of the reciprocating head 4. As the stud after the forwardtravel of the head,- to a predetermined extent strikes the lever 143,the latter by bearing against a set-screw carried by an extension 145 ofthe bell crank will cause this to be rocked, thereby raising the punch.As the stud 144 passes beyond arm 143, the parts may return to theirpositions shown in Fig. 1, for instance, through their own weight, aset-screw 146 being shown for limiting movement of the 2 parts in thisdirection. It will be apparent that upon the return of the head towardthe left the stud 144 will simply rock the lever 148 idlyupon the arm141 in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 1). shown in Fig. 1, toretain the stud 142 in the arm 141.

The caps 22 to be employed in our machine may be preformed in anysuitable manner, and preferably take the form shown in Fig. 16 when theyare to be employed in connection with cores for rolls of paper forprinting presses. If desired, the walls of the cap may be serrated orindented to cooperate with indentations formed in the core, in themanner to be explained, so as to in sure a good grip. To place such acarpin the machine it is merely necessary to push the wedges 52 to thesmaller end of the tapered member 5 and slip the cap over said memberinto abutment with flange 59 on element 58. If desired, the

the j A set screw 14'? may be provided, as i 10,, sud

wedges 52 may, in applying the cap, be. manually returned to theirposition shown in Fig. 6, though this is not necessary as therestoration of the parts to this position will take place automaticallyinthe operation of the machine. A core 5 may then be inserted in head 2so that its end is just over that edge of opening18 which is nearer thehead 4.

To start the operation of the machine it is then merely necessarytostart the motor 95, whereupon the depressions 130, 131 (Fig. 17) will beformed in the core, the slot 20 out, the cap forced into place, theclamp 103 released, the capped core ejected past the crimping members11, the head 4 and parts carried therewith returned totheir positions inFig.- 6, and the ma chine stopped.

This sequence of operations will now be more fully set forth. As thehead 4 advances by reason of engagement of pinlons 96 with racks 10%),the sleeves 37 and 39 are simply carried along during the first part ofthe travel by engagement of .keys 81 with grooves 87 in rods 76, asshown in Fig. 11. As the end 122 of the flange 123 strikes the roller121 on bell-crank 120, the clamping of the core 5 in position in thehead 2 is effected, as described. The tapered portion on the sleeve 39then enters the interior of core 5 as shown in Fig. 7, the wedges 52, ifthey have not previously been moved into their positions shown in Fig.6, being cammed into such position and compressing the core. The taperedmember .50 and wedges 52, having penetrated the interior of the core tothe desired extent, as shown in Fig. '7,

' and as determined by the initial distance between grooves 87 and 84 inthe rods 76 and 61 respectively, the keys 81 come opposite grooves 84 inthe fixed rod and are cammed thereinto by the wedging faces 82 as thehead continues to travel forwardly. As the keys 81 enter the grooves 84as shown in Fig. 12, the rods 76 are permitted to travel past the keysand consequently the head 4 is free to travel forward from its positionin Fig. '7 to that shown in Fig. 8. At the same time the engagement ofthe keys 81 with the grooves 84 will definitely arrest theforwardmovement of the sleeve 39 and its connected portion 75, thus retainingthe wedges 52 in the position shown in Figure 7. During the furthertravel of head 4, its bushing 6.5 engages the protruding ends ofelements 11 in the head'2 and forces them inwardly, thus formingrecesses or depressions 130 in the core 5. At about the same time, thepunch 19 is operated by engagement of stud 144 with lever 143. Since atthis stage the sleeve 39 is held againstfurther inward movement, thewedges 52 and elements 11 will jointly act to compress the core fromwithin and without. The wedges 52 and elements 11 are preferablystaggered or offset, one with respect to the other, about the perimeterof the core so that the outer and inner depressions 130, 131 do not lieexactly opposite, and this may be accomplished, as indicated in Fig. 15,by employing a greater number of wedges 52 than elements 11. or viceversa.

As the head 4 continues to travel forwardly after coasting with elements11, the forward end of sleeve 37 strikes cap 22, while the end 59 of theelement 58 is received by groove 60 in the sleeve. This, initially,results in the compression of spring 44', the resistance of which ispreferably less than the force required to push the cap onto the core.The rear wall 45 of the head now comes solidly against the end of sleeve37, as shown in Fig. 8, and as the head travels on, the cap 22 ispositively forced ontothe core 5 as shown in Fig. 9. Just as the partsreach their positions illustrated in Fig. 9, the core is unclamped, byreason of the roller 121 running off at the rear end of flange 123, andthe spring 44 then throws the sleeve 37 suddenly forward andautomatically throws the core 5 to a point beyond the crimping members11, so that when the head 4 is retracted these members will not strikethe cap as the bushing urges them inwardly during its return to itsposition shown in Fig. 6. To effect the retraction of the head 4 themotor is reversed just after the core has been thrown forward, as

described.

As the head 4 travels toward the rear of the machine, the rods '76 movefrom their positions in Fig. 13 to their positions in Fig. 12. At thispoint, the end wall 45 of the head comes into solid engagement with ashoulder on the portion '75 of sleeve 39 and the head and sleeve arethen shifted in unison, whereupon, since rod 61 is stationary and thehead 4 continues to travel, the keys 81 are cammed outwardly intogrooves 87 by the faces 85, and the parts return to their positions inFig. 11, when the motor is automatically stopped.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a capping machine in which itis only necessary to place the cap and the article to be capped inposition and then start the machine. All other necessary operations areperformed by the machine. However, it will be understood that certain ofthe operations, such as the clamping, could be manually performed, ifdesired, thus somewhat simplifying the mechanism.

' Compressing the core as at 130, 131, a particularly firm engagementbetween core and cap may be effected, probably due to displacement, asthe cap is forced into place, of the outstanding ma terial of the corebetween the indentations or de 1.1,

pressions to fill substantially the space between the wallsof the capand provide for frictional engagement around the circumference of thecore.

. Moreover, there is no deformation of the caps,

with the result that the caps may be removed and any equivalents of thefeatures shown and deg scribed, or portions thereof, but it isrecognized that various modifications are possible within the scope ofthe invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a hollowmember to be capped, means for retaining a cap, means for indenting saidmember both internally and externally adjacent the end, an operatingdevice, means'operated by said device for actuating said indentingmeans, j

and means subsequently operated by said device for forcing said cap ontosaid member.

-2. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a member tobe capped,means for retaining a cap, means for indenting said memberadjacent the end, a reciprocating operating device, means driven therebyfor actuating said indenting means, and means driven by said device forsubsequently forcing said cap onto said member.

3. In a machine of the character described, for applying caps to tubularmembers formed of relatively yielding material, a frame including astationary member adapted to receive an end or" said tubular member andmeans to clamp the tubular member in place, and movable means adapted totravel along the axis of said tubular member, said means comprising amember adapted to lie within said. tubular member, and a member forforcing the cap on said tubular member.

4. In a machine for applying rigid caps to members formed of relativelyyielding material, means for indenting the ends of the members includinga reciprocating member of substantially circular interior cross sectionand a member slidable therewithin for urging a cap onto said member ofyielding material.

5. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tube of relativelyyielding material, means to hold the tube, means to punch a slot in thetube, and subsequently operative means to force the cap onto said tube.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a tubularmember, means for retaining an annular cap adjacent the end of saidmember, means adapted to be passed through said cap into said member toreduce the wall of the latter, and means for subsequently forcing saidcap onto the end of said member.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a tubularmember, means for retaining an annular cap adjacent the end of saidmember, means adapted to be passed through said cap into said member toretain the wall of the latter, means for recessing said member adjacentits end, and means for subsequently forcing said cap onto therecessedend of said memher, said last-named means traveling along the axis ofsaid tubular member.

8. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member formed ofyielding material, means to compress a portion of the material at theend or" the member, said compressing means comprising a fixed headadapted to receive the member, radially movable elements carried in saidhead for engaging said member, and movable means to urge said elementsinwardly, and means to force the cap into firm engagement with saidcompressed portion upon release of said elements by the further movementof said movable means.

9. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member formed ofyielding material, to compress a portion of the material at the end ofthe member, said compressing means comprising a fixed head adapted toreceive the member, movable elements carried in said head for engagingsaid member, and reciprocating means including a portion adapted to liewithin the member and a portion for urging said elements inwardly, andmeans to force the cap into firm engagement with said compressedportion.

10. In a machine of the character described, means to support a tubularmember, reciprocating means including a portion adapted to enter andsupport the walls of the tubular member, a punch, an opening in saidportion adapted to receive the end of the punch, and means controlled bythe reciprocating means for operating the punch.

11. In a machine of the class described, means to support one end of atubular member in predetermined position a hollow reciprocating head,means to move the head, a member mounted within said head for travelwith respect thereto,

and positive means for causing said member to travel with said head apredetermined distance into operative relation with said tubular memherand thereupon be maintained against further travel during continuedmovement of the head in the same direction.

12. In a machine of the class described, means to support one end of atubular member in predetermined position, a hollow reciprocating head,means to move the head, a member mounted within said head for travelwith respect thereto, and means for causing said member'to travel withsaid head a predetermined distance into operative relation with saidtubular member and thereupon be maintained against further travel duringcontinued movement of the head in the same direction, said last namedmeans comprising keys shiftable on said member and having camming facesfor engagement by camming shoulders carried with said head.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said last named meansare again efiective to cause the head and member to travel together uponthe return of the head.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said keys are carriedwithsaid member and are adapted to be cammed into engagement withgrooves in a stationary member upon predeerinined travel of the head.

15. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member, atravelling head, means carried with the head for forcing the cap intoengagement with the member to be capped, and means cooperating with thefirst-named means for ejectlng the capped member from the machine.

15. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member, atraveling head, means carried with the head for forcing the cap intoengagement with the member to be capped, and spring means cooperatingwith the first-named means for ejecting the capped member from themachine.

17. In a machine of the character described, for applying a metal cap toa tubular member of relatively yielding material, a fixed head carryingcompressing members adapted to position an end of said member, atraveling head adapted to reciprocate with respect to said fixed headand to operate said compressing, members during its reciprocation, meansadapted to support a cap and having a portion carrying other compressingmembers and adapted to enter the end of the member, and means to forcethe cap into firm engagement with the member.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 1'7, wherein said cap supportingmeans and forcing means are carried with said traveling head. I

19. The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said cap supportingmeans and forcing means are mounted on said traveling head forreciprocation with respect thereto.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 1'7, wherein said cap supportingmeans and forcing means are concentrically arranged Within saidtraveling head and are operable thereby.

21. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tubular member ofrelatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end ofsaid member, a tapered member carrying compressing members and adaptedto enter and compress said end of the yielding member, and means forapplying a cap to said end while said tapered member is within saidtubular member.

22. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tubular member ofrelatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end ofsaid member, meansadapted to enter the end of said member and deform thematerial thereof, said means comprising a tapered element and wedgeelements slidably mounted thereon,,and means for applying a cap tosaidend while said tapered element is within said tubular member.-

v23. In a machine ,forv applying a rigid cap to atubular member ofrelatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end ofsaid member, means adapted to enter the end of said member and compressthe material thereof, said means comprising a tapered element and wedgeelements slidably mounted thereon, said tapered element being adapted tosupport a cap, and means for applying said cap to said end while saidtapered element is within said tubular member.

24. In a machine of the character described, aframe, a fixed hollow headcarrying compression members and having a base secured rigidly to theframe, and a movable head adapted to reciprocate along said frame and toenvelope said fixed head, said movable head having a portion adapted toengagesaid compression mem bers to actuate the same, said movable headbeing cut away at its lower side for receiving the base of said fixedhead, and said movable head having a portion of enlarged internaldiameter rearward of the first named portion to relieve said movablehead from cooperation with said compression members.

I 25. In a machine for applying an annular metal cap to a tubular memberof relatively yielding material, a reciprocating member adapted to enterthe cap and support the same, a flange carried with said reciprocatingmember for positioning the cap thereon, means adapted to overrun theflange to push the cap off the reciprocating member onto the tubularmember, and means cooperating with said reciprocating member forcompressing the walls of the tubular member adjacent the end thereof.

26. In a machine for applying an annular metal cap to a tubular memberof relatively yielding material, a reciprocating member adapted to enterthe cap and support the same,-a flange carried with said reciprocatingmember for positioning the cap thereon, and means for forcing the capfrom said last-mentioned member into engagement with the tubular member.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein said means comprisea sleeve slidably mounted on the reciprocating member and having a slotadapted to receivesaid flange.

28. In a machine of the class described, means including a stationaryhead adapted to receive and surround av tubular member of yieldingmaterial, a clamping deviceto hold said tubular member, meanscooperating with said head for forming depressions in said membernear-the end thereof, and means for cutting a slot in said member.

29. In a machine of the class described, means including a stationaryhead adapted to receive a tubular member of yielding material,meanscooperating with said head for forming depressions in said memberin both the inner and outer surfaces of the wall near the end thereof,and means for cutting a slot in said member.

for applying a cap having a key to a tubular member of yieldingmaterial, means to compress the end of said member means to form akey-way in the member, and means to force the cap into place on saidmember with the key in the key-way.

31. In a machine of the character described for applying a cap having akey to a tubular member of yielding material, means to form a keyway inthe member, and means to force the cap into place on said member withthe key in the key-way.

32. The combination as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first-namedmeans operatively controls both the other means.

33. In a machine of the character described for applying a cap having akey to a tubular member of yielding material, means to punch a key-wayin said member, means operable at substantially right angles to thedirection in which the punch means operates for forcing a cap onto saidmember, and a member for effecting operation of both said means.

34. In a machine of the class described, means to position the end of atubular member, means including a member adapted to enter said tubularmember and a member adapted to lie around the outside of said tubularmember cooperating to compress the walls of the tubular member adjacentthe end thereof, said members being arranged one within the other andbeing mounted for reciprocation with respect to the first-named means.

35. In a machine of the character described, for engaging a cap of rigidmaterial with a tubular member of relatively yielding material, meansfor compressing the walls of the tubular member including a stationaryhead adapted to receive and position an end of said tubular member, areciprocating head adapted to receive the stationary head and cooperatewith the first-named means, a cap supporting member carried by saidreciprocating head and having an end adapted to enter said tubularmember, and a sleeve carried by said reciprocating head and extendingbetween the inner periphery of said reciprocating head and the outerperiphery of said cap supporting member and adapted to force the caponto the tubular member.

36. The combination as claimed in claim 35, wherein said sleeve isarranged for reciprocation with respect to said cap supporting member.

37. In a machine of the class described, means for retaining a member tobe capped in fixed position, a main operating member, and coordinatedmeans operated by said operating member for forming the end of saidmember to be capped, for forcing a cap onto the end of said member whilein the fixed position, and for thereafter ejecting the capped memberfrom the machine.

38. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a memberto be capped, means for clamping said member, means for forcing a caponto the end of said member, means for operat ing said clamping means insynchronism with said forcing means to retain said member during thecapping operation, and means for ejecting the capped member upon releaseof said clamping means.

EDWIN WILLIAM BEBIE. GEORGE WASHINGTON DODGE.

